WACO, Texas – For the first time since 1977, a Western Michigan men's tennis player is set to compete at the NCAA Men's Tennis Singles Championships, with Anton Arzhankin set to open the Round of 64 on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. against Washington's Cesar Bouchelaghem.
 
The match will be streamed live HERE and on ESPN+, and live scoring will also be available HERE.
 
HOW DID HE GET HERE?
Arzhankin's journey began at the MAC Indoor Qualifying Event, opening with a bye in the Round of 16. The Moscow, Russia, native dispatched Illinois-Chicago's Artem Alekseychuck 6-4, 6-2 in the Quarterfinals. He advanced to the Finals after a 6-1, 6-1 win over Northern Illinois' Iker Arrastia and then won the tournament with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Toledo's Hanamichi Carvajal. The victory earned Arzhankin a bid to the ITA Conference Masters Tournament.
 
At the ITA Conference Masters, Arzhankin received a bye in the Round of 32 and then had to take on Mercer's Nemanja Stefanovic. Arzhankin beat Stefanovic 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the Quarterfinals, where he drew Northern Arizona's Daniel Torres. Arzhankin dropped the first set to Torres 6-7 (1-7), but rebounded in the second with a 6-4 win. In the third set he clinched the win with a 6-2 decision to advance to the Semifinals. Arzhankin clinched the berth to the NCAA Singles Championships by getting to the Semifinals, where he was matched up with Pacific's Tiago Silva. The two battled hard in the first set, with Silva getting the best of Arzhankin in a tie-breaker 7-6 (7-3). Silva then won the second set 6-1 to hand Arzhankin just his second singles loss of the Fall.
 
MORE ON ARZHANKIN
Anton Arzhankin is the midst of his senior season after joining the Broncos in 2021. As a freshman he went 23-10 in singles and was named the MAC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-MAC, named to the MAC Tournament Team and named the MAC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after helping the Broncos to both a MAC Regular Season Championship and the MAC Tournament Championship. During his freshman season he went 8-2 in MAC singles, while alternating between No. 1 and No. 2.
 
He was once again named a First Team All-MAC selection as a sophomore after going a perfect 10-0 in MAC play, helping the Broncos to a MAC Regular Season Championship. He was 24-10 overall in singles and 19-13 in doubles.
 
As a junior he was named First Team All-MAC for a third time, going 24-6 in singles and 20-2 in dual matches, while posting a 9-1 record in MAC play. 
 
Heading into Tuesday's match he has a career singles record of 86-23. Combined with his 50 career doubles wins, his total wins are at 136, which currently ranks him 39th all-time in program history. With the Spring Season, Arzhankin has a chance to become the ninth player in player in program history to reach 100 career singles wins.
 
HIS OPPONENT
Arzhankin will be pitted against Washington's No. 1 singles plyer in Cesar Bouchelaghem. Bouchelaghem was a First Team All-PAC 12 selection as a junior and earned Second Team honors as a sophomore. Prior to the start of his senior season he had a career singles record of 45-24.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Tuesday's match will advance to the Round of 32 on Wednesday to take on the winner of Tennessee's Shunsuke Mitsui and Old Dominion's Connor Van Schalkwyk.